By 1995 everybody knew Michael Jordan was a Hall of Famer. The Chicago Bulls guard was fresh out of retirement while a shy and humble Ichiro Suzuki had a chance to meet him for the first time at the age of 22-years-old.
Ichiro had not yet broken into the majors and was still playing back in Japan. In a way, Jordan could tell Ichiro was special. While in conversation through a translator back in the men's locker room, Jordan and Ichiro spoke. Jordan, as the host, asked all the questions wondering where Ichiro had been and where he was going. Ichiro's career was in the making as this meeting with Jordan took place six years before the Japanese star broke into the MLB.
When Jordan was told that Ichiro's first home run was off then Los Angeles Dodgers Rookie of the Year award winner, Hideo Nomo. The wide-eyed Jordan was surprised and found a way to joke about the situation, "So I guess Nomo doesn't want to see him here."
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Ichiro made his MLB debut in 2001 where he won the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year. He was simply the best player in baseball. He had speed, contact and top notch defender. It seemed that the old her got, the better he played. Ichiro is still active as a member of the aging New York Yankees. The Yankees production has slowed down, however, Ichiro can help the Yankees since he could do a lot of damage.
Not a lot has to be said about Jordan, except that he's still considered the best to ever play the game of baseball.
Jordan and Ichiro discussed baseball positions as he first thought the Japanese star was a pitching. Ichoro told him he hit and said he would eventually come to the U.S. after his arms were as big as Jordan's.
Ichiro's arms never got as big as Jordan's but in 12 years, Ichiro has racked up 2,606 hits. So it seems that, though Jordan has issues picking great NBA stars to play in his team, Jordan can tell who's a star.
